The Appleton Ladies' Potato Race
| The Appleton Ladies' Potato Race | |
|---|---|
| Directed by | Lynn Hegarty |
| Screenplay by | Melanie Tait |
| Based on | The Appleton Ladies' Potato Race by Melanie Tait |
| Produced by | Andrea Keir Lisa Duff |
| Starring |
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| Cinematography | Henry Pierce |
| Edited by | Katie Flaxman |
| Music by |
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Production companies |
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| Distributed by |
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Release date |
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Running time | 108 minutes |
| Country | Australia |
| Language | English |
The Appleton Ladies' Potato Race is a 2023 Australian feature film based on the stage play of the same name. The film premiered in Australia on Network Ten and was released on streaming on Paramount+ Australia.[1]
Plot[edit]
Doctor Penny Anderson moves from Sydney to her childhood home of Appleton. While visiting the hair salon of her sister Nikki, Penny sees a flyer advertising The Appleton Show and its famous potato race. She discovers the men's first prize pays out $2,000 and the winning woman's prize is only $200. Penny leads a protest which causes turmoil in Appleton, particularly with Nikki, who is the current champion.
Cast[edit]
- Claire van der Boom as Penny Anderson
- Katie Wall as Nikki Anderson Bunyan
- Genevieve Lemon as Barb Brickner
- Tiriel Mora as Bob Bunyan
- Robyn Nevin as Joan Bunyan
- Olivia Stamboulia as Rania Hamid
- Andy Ryan as Gavin Bunyan
- Cece Peters as Kazzy Pearce
- Rohan Nichol as Mark Bunyan
- Nicholas Bakopoulos-Cooke as Elliot Bunyan
- TJ Barrett as Ethan Bunyan
- William Glinellis as Eddie Bunyan
- Safia Arain as Miriam Hamid
- Darren Gilshenan as Billy Pope
- John Batchelor as Billy Pearce
- Maggie Dence as Miss Vaughn
- John Gaden as Dr Holliday
- Will McNeill as Luke Pearce
Production[edit]
The film is based on a play by Melanie Tait, originally developed and performed with the Ensemble Theatre in Sydney. This was inspired by a real event in Tait's hometown of Robertson, New South Wales.[2][3]
The film was shot in Sydney and the Southern Highlands with finance from Screen Australia, Screen NSW and the NSW Regional Film Fund.[4][5]
Reception[edit]
Andrew Mercardo of Mediaweek called it "charming… whilst it doesn’t play like a pilot, it would make for a great ongoing series."[6] Lenny Ann Low of The Sydney Morning Herald described the film as "sparky, funny, compassionate and honest."[7]
References[edit]
- ^ Low, Lenny Ann (21 July 2023). "A funny, compassionate, honest tale about feminism, culture clashes and potatoes". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
- ^ Demertzis, Vera (25 July 2023). "Former Robertson playwright Melanie Tait's 'The Appleton Ladies' Potato' comes to life on Channel 10". Illawarra Mercury. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
- ^ McLaren, Nick (9 December 2022). "Extras sought for The Appleton Ladies' Potato Race now filming in Robertson, Bundanoon". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
- ^ "'The Appleton Ladies' Potato Race' (Trailer)". If magazine. 18 July 2023. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
- ^ "PARAMOUNT+ ANNOUNCES CAST OF THE APPLETON LADIES' POTATO RACE". Screen Australia. 29 July 2023. 5 December 2022.
- ^ Mercado, Andrew (21 July 2023). "Mercado on TV: Charming new Aussie telemovie The Appleton Ladies' Potato Race". Mediaweek. Retrieved 29 July 2023.
- ^ Low, Lenny Ann (15 July 2023). "A funny, compassionate, honest tale about feminism, culture clashes and potatoes". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment Co. Retrieved 5 September 2023.
